Saliva test offered to workers

AUCKLAND: Workers at the border and in quarantine facilities will be able to get daily saliva tests as well as their weekly regular tests, but it will not be mandatory, despite concerns about new fastspreading variants of Covid19.

Covid19 Minister Chris Hipkins said the saliva tests would be offered to staff at the Jet Park Quarantine facility in Auckland from Monday and then rolled out to other Managed Isolation and Quarantine facilities in Wellington and Christchurch.

‘‘This new precautionary measure is in response to higher rates of infection overseas and the more transmissible variants of Covid19, and is the latest in a series of added protection measures at the border,’’ Mr Hipkins said.

The saliva tests had a lower sensitivity than the nasopharyngeal swab test, so would not replace the usual testing regime, which would remain in place, he said.

However, the tests were less invasive and could help pick up cases sooner.

µ Air NZ international crew who have travelled from highrisk countries must now isolate in a special hotel, with the tab being picked up by taxpayers.

Until Monday, aircrew had the choice to selfisolate at home.

TVNZ reported that every week about 80 pilots and cabin crew on highrisk flights were now being driven to a hotel where a private healthcare team tests them for Covid19.

If they test negative, they can leave after 48 hours.

‘‘We’re not going to have security on the door. We do trust the airlines to follow the rules,’’ Mr Hipkins told 1 News.

The new arrangement is being paid for by the Government, which says Air New Zealand is an essential service.

µ Nine new cases of Covid19 in managed isolation were reported yesterday. — The New

Zealand Herald